THE SPARK THE LOGS AND THE GASOLINE - the long road to the New Zealand Wars.
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FORMAT : 9" X 6" Trade Paperback
PAGES : 446 
ISBN : 978-0-473-73378-0
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"Probably every New Zealander has heard of “The New Zealand Wars” but how many actually know anything about them? What were these wars about? Who wanted what and why? How did New Zealand get to that place?

The Spark, the Logs and the Gasoline aims to answer these key questions in a easily understandable way for the general reader. The cause of the New Zealand Wars cannot be dumbed down to any single event – that is just bad history. The road to the wars was long and twisting, a forty-year sequence of events all of which were preconditions for the wars and all of which we need to understand if we are to do justice to history.

This book carefully separates the many strands of the story, lays them out logically and breaks them down in simple terms. Compellingly written in an easy style for the everyday reader it cuts straight to the documented historical facts, presented wherever possible in the words of the key Maori and European players of the time, putting us in their shoes, facing their dilemmas and examining their choices, motives and reasoning as seen from their own perspective and as judged by the norms and standards of their own time.

Along the long path to war we will take in many pivotal events in general New Zealand history, including the Musket Wars, the ravages of Te Rauparaha, the Treaty of Waitangi, the arrival of the New Zealand Company, the emergence of the King Movement – and much more .

The Spark, the Logs and the Gasoline is an essential read for every New Zealander who wants to understand this key part of our history."

                  PRICE: $59.00
ORDER NOW FROM:  info@piersseed.co.nz 

TAONGA AND CONTRA PROFERENTEM - 
thoughts on the Waitangi Tribunal process.
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FORMAT : A5 Trade Paperback
PAGES : 270
ISBN : 978-0-473-69165-3
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"For almost forty years the Waitangi Tribunal has sat in judgement on New Zealand’s past and found most – if not all of it – sorely wanting.

One of the words used by the Tribunal to justify some of its more controversial decisions is the Maori word taonga, a word which in modern times is said to mean many things, including the wonderfully vague – “treasure”. Yet some have claimed that the meaning of taonga in 1840 was in fact very different and that many Tribunal decisions are therefore based on a fantasy.

“Contra proferentem” is a legal doctrine used by the Tribunal to claim that the Maori language Treaty version – “Te Tiriti” – has precedence over the English language “Treaty”, effectively denying the Crown any say in its interpretation – surely a very strange thing in an agreement between two parties.

What is the actual truth of the matter? Have taonga and contra proferentem been used correctly? Or have important Tribunal decisions been based on a very wobbly house of cards?

And just what is the robustness of the Waitangi Tribunal process and of over forty years of decisions that have turned New Zealand on its head?

This book provides an in-depth analysis of these pivotal aspects of our recent history and is a must-read for every New Zealander."

              PRICE : $35.00

ORDER NOW FROM:   info@piersseed.co.nz

                  HOANI'S LAST STAND
         - the real story of Rangiaowhia.
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"Using all the available accounts written by eye-witnesses, the author has written the most detailed account of the skirmish at Rangiaowhia in the Waikato war that has yet appeared.

Rangiaowhia was the breadbasket of the area, supplying food to the strongly held fortress of Paterangi. The control of Rangiaowhia and the bypassing of Paterangi were strokes of strategic genius on the part of General Cameron, enabling him to defeat his opponents without the need to attack Paterangi and thus preventing much loss of life on both sides. In so doing, Cameron hastened the end of the Waikato war.

After the night march through the bush from Te Rore Cameron’s force, including von Tempsky’s Forest Rangers, broke into two in order to occupy the village.
In the process they were fiercely resisted by the gunfire that came from one house – the famous last stand of Hoani." 

Order your copy from Tross Publishing:

https://trosspublishing.com/product/hoanis-last-stand/